Tesla Model 3 Configurator Goes Online, Here's the Cheapest Variant Money Can Buy

Tesla finally brought the refreshed version to America. The Model 3 Highland starts at $38,990 on the American market. What do you actually get for the money? It is the price of the rear-wheel drive variant, powered by a single motor.

The only paintwork included in the base price is quite an interesting one: Stealth Grey. You would have to pay $1,000 more for Pearl White and Deep Blue Metallic, $1,500 more for Solid Black, and $2,000 for Ultra Red.

The entry-level Model 3 rides on 18-inch Photon wheels with black matte finish and all-season tires. Those who are willing to pay $1,500 more can go for the 19-inch Nova units.

The black leather interior is included in the base price, while the white leather adds $1,000 to the final cost of the compact sedan.

We stick to our plan to set up the cheapest new Tesla Model 3 that money can buy and stay away from the Enhanced Autopilot, which would cost $6,000 and bring Autopilot navigation, automatic lane change, self-parking, plus the Summon and Smart Summon functions. Drivers can also check the box for the Full Self-Driving Capability, which costs a whopping $12,000.

If you order a standard Tesla Model 3 Highland right now, you should expect to receive it in either February or March. The car has been in production at the Giga Shanghai for over two months, but the units selling in the United States roll off the production line of Tesla's factory in Fremont, California. Despite the lack of the official announcement coming from Tesla, it is obvious that the production center is working on the new Model 3.

The final price of the car, with the destination fee of $1,390 and the order fee of $250, is $42,130, and customers can pay online by credit card. They must know that the money brings them the entry-level all-new Model 3 powered by a single motor, mounted on the rear axle in a rear-wheel drive setup. The motor generates 275 horsepower (280 PS). That is enough for an acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.

The battery stores enough energy for 272 miles with the 18-inch wheels or 248 miles with the 19-inch units before the car needs to be plugged in again.

At the opposite end of the lineup, the Tesla Model 3, with all the bells and whistles of a range-topping variant, will set you back over $64,000. But that one is the Long Range All-Wheel Drive version.

Tesla claims that every new variant of the Model 3 will qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit. However, for the moment, that couldn't be further from the truth.